1915-16.] Obituary Notices. 353 
As he retired from the Anatomical Chair in 1903, after being for some 
fifty years the outstanding figure in British anatomy, in order to become 
Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, his influence 
and leisure for administrative work were increased. He became Joint- 
Chairman of the University Library Committee, and filled other minor 
posts. It was in his Principalship that the new Engineering Department 
was completed at High School Yards in 1905-6, and that part of the 
Surgical Hospital of the Old Infirmary was transformed into a new 
Department for Natural Philosophy in 1907. It was sometimes said that 
his policy was not sufficiently progressive, but it was only limited by the 
apparent funds available, and Turner’s cautious estimate has proved of 
value in war time. During his Principalship notable improvements were 
made on the medical and scientific side, new groups for graduation arranged 
in the Arts curricula, the three-term session introduced, the tutorial system 
established, and the number of lectureships increased. 
Sir William Turner acted along with the late Mr Middleton Rettie, 
Emeritus-Professor Chiene, C.B., and Emeritus-Professor M‘Kendrick as a 
trustee on the Mary Dick Trust, and this doubtless quickened a desire 
to affiliate the Royal Dick Veterinary College to the University. He 
succeeded in carrying out a working arrangement, and had the satisfac- 
tion of seeing the institution of the degrees of Bachelor and Doctor of 
Science in this important branch of applied science. 
Undoubtedly Principal Sir William Turner was fond of his own way, and 
usually got it up to the last; but his wisdom was such that the University 
must always look back upon his term of office as one of the notable periods 
of its history and regard his whole long and loyal service with gratitude. 
Many honours besides those already mentioned came to Sir William 
Turner. He received the freedom of the city of Edinburgh in December 
1909; the Universities of Dublin and of Cambridge conferred the degree 
of D.Sc. ; the Universities of Glasgow, St Andrews, Aberdeen, and Montreal 
all enrolled him as LL.D. ; Oxford, Toronto, and Durham called him to be 
D.C.L. He was an Honorary Member of the Royal Irish Academy and of 
the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh; Honorary Fellow of the Obstetri- 
cal Society of Edinburgh ; Foreign Member of the Anthropological Societies 
of Paris, Rome, and Brussels ; Corresponding Member of the Anthropo- 
logical Society and Royal Prussian Academy, Berlin ; Knight of the 
Royal Prussian Order Pour le Merite, 1912. 
Early in 1895 his portrait was painted by the late Sir George Reid, 
President of the Royal Scottish Academy, for presentation by subscribers, 
and is now a family heirloom. Another portrait of Sir William Turner, 
vol. xxxvi. 23 
